Morning at Las Cienegas

Morning at Las Cienegas, 5"x7", oil on linen panel
©2013 Cindy Greene

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

While I am missing so many of my family today, I am cherishing time with those who are near. Thank you, Hilary, for spending this Thanksgiving with us!

My childhood was marked by Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter all spent with a large, loving extended family. Cousins squished into the "kids table", sharing the piano bench with my cousin Nancy, aunts and my mom bustling about (and working so very hard) to feed the clan, and my grandmother worrying that she put too much sage in the dressing. (It was always wonderful.) I'm so grateful for those times, and the amazing amount of love that flowed through the family. I love you all.

This little painting is for my brother, Michael. He's a talented artist and photographer, and recently took a stunning photo of cattle greeting the morning in southern Arizona. I was so inspired by it.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

The Art Show Juggle

Evidently November and December aren't crazy enough in our family**, so I am happy to share that I have paintings juried into three shows in December. 

First up is the "Greatest Show on Earth," the 6" Squared show at Randy Higbee Gallery. A December tradition in Orange County, California, there will be over 600 framed paintings, all 6"x6". Artists from all over the country send their small works in, and the opening reception (December 7, 6-9pm) is supposed to be legendary. The show has a great reputation for art sales, since nearly all the pieces are reasonably priced and include Randy's beautiful framing. You can view all the entries at the online gallery. Last year nearly 50 pieces sold before the show opened! I have two pieces in the show, which can be seen here. 

Another popular December show here in Southern California is the Holiday Treasures Salon 2013 at the Debra Huse Gallery on Balboa Island. My painting "Balboa for Two" will be included. Opening reception will be Thursday, December 5, 6-8pm. The gallery will be open from noon - 6pm for a preview.

And last is a new show in the area, curated by interior designer Sara Balough and supporting returning veterans from the Middle East. The HOME Show will be held at the Malaga Cove Library in Palos Verdes. The Library will also share in the proceeds of the show. There are some gorgeous paintings in this show, and I'm so proud to be represented. The opening reception will be December 4, 5-8pm.

So next week will be crazy/busy. In addition to three show receptions, I have three dinners with friends, a lunch with friends I used to work with, and the usual commitments. But I'm so excited to be in all three of these shows, and would love to see you at the galleries!

**briefly, out of our original family of five, three of us have birthdays Christmas week. Two sons-in-law have birthdays the week of our anniversary and my mom-in-law's birthday in November, and I think my mother and husband's birthday and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are in there somewhere. Oh, and did I mention our daughter's wedding in mid-January? No wonder I want to hide in the studio!

Sea Oats, Jekyll Island

Sea Oats, Jekyll Island / 6"x6" / oil on panel / ©2013 Cindy Greene

I'm beginning to mentally process some of the 1000 or so reference photos I took on our recent trip to the Southeast. Of course they are all loaded on the computer and sorted by day taken, but it takes so much time to go through them and pull out photos that need to become a painting soon. I will typically do this many times.

Here is a small painting I did this week from a couple of reference photos I took at Jekyll Island, Georgia. The brilliant sunlight gave a glow to the grasses as well as the shadows.

I have also been working on larger paintings in the studio. Usually I do these after painting one or two small studies. I finished one this week that I am quite pleased with — but it has to wait for now. Well, if you visit my new website, you'll see it on the front page. Let me know what you think!

So What's New?

Piece of Heaven, 8"x10", oil on canvas panel, ©2013 Cindy Greene

I realize I have been totally blog-less for the last few weeks — and for good reason. We spent two wonderful weeks in Georgia and South Carolina, visiting friends and biking around Saint Simon's and Jekyll Islands. It felt like we were gone at least a month. I've spent most of the last week just trying to catch up on what I didn't get done while I was gone. Not there yet.

The last week of our trip was spent with dear friends in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. We have visited many times and covered the local sights, so this time we mostly relaxed and ate. I spent a lovely afternoon in their back yard with my paints. Piece of Heaven is the result.

We haven't sloshed through the 1500 or so photos we took on the trip yet, but I have lots of painting references and fun things to share. Another day!